H14.6 × W16.6 cm
Hara Kiyoshi is a potter designated a Living National Treasure in 2005 for his use of iron-based glazes (tetsu-yu) following in the footsteps of both Shimizu Uichi and Ishiguro Munemaro to become the third LNT designated for using iron-based glazes (after training with both his predecessors).
From the 1980s, he began to carve out his signature style by honing the use of two characters: the first being his motifs of horses over various celadon, classic Chinese white cizhou glazes, and secondly, a semi-opaque blue glaze. This blue takes on several hues: from a warm Turkish blue, to the green-blue tones of celadon. Other works take on a lighter, cool cobalt. His immersion into this color over both porcelain and stoneware has earned him the honor of being a Bearer of Intangible Cultural Heritage. He opened his own kiln in Setagaya, Tokyo in 1965. Today, Hara is an active potter and a member of the Japan Kogei Association after having exhibited extensively with an illustrious career consisting of solo exhibitions at Takashimaya, Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi, and other prestigious institutions that have done so much to promote Japanese ceramics.